James Douglas Crane was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 12, 1937. As a young boy he moved to Portland, Oregon with his mother Bea and father “Bob,” along with his brother Jerry and sister Barbara.
As was in his nature, he spent his childhood exploring the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, becoming an avid fisherman and hunter. As a young man, he struck out South to California, where he eventually joined the Air Force, where he learned to become an Air Traffic Controller. Once honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, he was hired to work with the Federal Aviation Administration, Oakland Center, where he worked until his retirement.
Jim’s list of accomplishments that he both enjoyed and excelled at would be too numerous to list, but we would feel bereft not to mention just a few of these. Jim was a licensed pilot of single and twin-engine aircraft, a parachutist, a scuba & snorkel diver, avid fisherman and bow hunter, snow skier, and all around outdoorsman. He sponsored a Vietnamese family, the Ngos, after the war, and helped to bring 1,200 Vietnamese people to the USA. Those people are now taking advantage of their citizenship and experiencing the American Dream first hand. He also sponsored “Foster Families” in both the Philippines and Brazil.
His largest accomplishment was his love to travel. Jim visited 62 countries on six continents. He eschewed tourist traps, preferring to reach out to the heart of each country, to meet “real people” and experience “real life” in each place. He enjoyed bringing his children and grandchildren on his numerous trips, often allowing us to choose which country we would like to see. He met his partner and best friend Peggy in 1992 and found in her the perfect traveling companion. Together, they’ve spent the last 28 years exploring all corners of the planet and hosting friends from everywhere right here in the USA. They eventually left the Bay Area of California to move to Surprise, Arizona in 2015.
Jim Crane passed away August 5th, 2019, at home, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his partner Margaret “Peggy” Johnson of Surprise, AZ; his brother Jerry Crane, of San Luis Obispo, CA; his children Julie Crane of Coquille, OR; Kim Crane of Redwood City, CA; Jim Crane of Vacaville, CA; Laura Dominguez of Oakley, CA; and KC Crane-Daniels of Deer Park, WA. His adopted daughter Jennifer Marks, of Rogue River, OR and The Ngo Family of Modesto, CA. Also, a large number of grandchildren both descendant and adopted. Finally, an uncountable number of people all over the planet whose lives he touched, along with his family, will greatly miss this amazing man.
“In lieu of flowers, Jim Crane requests that everyone spend that money on a good bottle of cognac or brandy, or any libation of your choosing, and drink to his extraordinary life. That was his last wish.”
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